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Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly Sued Over Vision Loss Claims
Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are being sued over claims that their medicines caused permanent vision loss.
The medicines belong to a group called GLP-1 drugs.
One ingredient, semaglutide, is used in Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Ozempic.
European medicine officials said semaglutide was linked to a rare eye condition called NAION.
NAION can damage the optic nerve and affect vision.
Novo Nordisk added a warning to the labels for Wegovy and Ozempic.
Australia and Canada also require warnings about the risk.
In the United States, the labels mention vision changes but do not specifically name NAION.
Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly face lawsuits alleging their GLP-1 drugs caused permanent vision loss.
The European Medicines Agency’s safety committee linked semaglutide to NAION in very rare cases.
Novo Nordisk updated Wegovy and Ozempic labels to warn of NAION in up to 1 in 10,000 patients.
Australia and Canada have also required warning labels for the potential eye-related risk.
U.S. labeling mentions general vision changes but does not specifically name NAION.
- Who
- Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, whose GLP-1 medicines are the subject of lawsuits; European, Australian, Canadian, and U.S. medicine regulators are also involved.
- What
- Lawsuits allege that GLP-1 drugs caused permanent vision loss, while regulators have examined a possible link between semaglutide and NAION.
- Where
- The regulatory actions concern Europe, Australia, Canada, and the United States.
- When
- The European Medicines Agency’s safety committee reached its conclusion in June 2025; subsequent label changes followed.
- Why
- The lawsuits concern alleged permanent vision loss, while regulators acted after reviewing a possible association between semaglutide and the rare eye condition NAION.
Safety concerns and legal claims
Manufacturer risk-benefit position
Whether the medicines present an unacceptable vision risk
Safety concerns and legal claims
Lawsuits allege that the drugs caused permanent vision loss, and regulators identified a very rare link between semaglutide and NAION.
Manufacturer risk-benefit position
Novo Nordisk says patient safety is its top priority but maintains that semaglutide’s overall benefit-risk profile remains favourable.
How prominently the risk should be disclosed
Safety concerns and legal claims
European, Australian, and Canadian authorities have required or supported specific warnings naming NAION.
Manufacturer risk-benefit position
The United States has not required a specific NAION warning; its current labeling refers more generally to vision changes.
Key facts
- Drug ingredient
- Semaglutide
- Eye condition
- Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION)
- Products with updated labels
- Wegovy and Ozempic
- Estimated frequency in updated labels
- Up to 1 in 10,000 patients
- European review
- The European Medicines Agency’s safety committee concluded in June 2025 that semaglutide was linked to NAION in very rare cases.
- Additional warning-label countries
- Australia and Canada
- U.S. labeling
- Current labeling mentions general vision changes but does not specifically name NAION.
Sources
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